The Dutch government has still not reached a decision about the planned visit to Oman by Queen Beatrix. One of the places the queen was scheduled to visit is the port of Sohar where six protesters were killed at the weekend.  Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Princess Máxima and a group of Dutch businessmen were to accompany the state visit.

Security is, of course, the main consideration as to whether the royal visit should be cancelled. But there are other factors. Apparently Dutch politicians are hoping that the host, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said al Said, will take the initiative and advise against the visit for security reasons. If the Dutch government cancels it could be interpreted by Oman as an insult.

Sultan decides
The Dutch business community is determined not to offend the sultan since, as employers' organisation chairman Bernard Wientjes emphasizes, Oman is an attractive country for Dutch companies:

"If the Dutch state decides the visit should not happen, then of course we won't be going either. But it would be a shame, since it would be extremely interesting for the leaders of Dutch business community to go there and sit down with the leaders of that country. It's really important in a country where many important decisions are taken by a group of leaders."

In fact, it is the sultan himself that decides who gets the foreign orders. For example, the port of Rotterdam has become 50 percent owner of the new industrial harbour of Sohar. Rotterdam is helping with development of the harbour and has a permanent team of 15 people there. On Monday Hans Smits, director of the Port of Rotterdam, announced that these people have been recalled.

"Our staff has been moved from Sohar to Muscat, where things are quiet. We are, of course keeping an eye on development by the hour. If necessary, we can withdraw our employees and their families. But it doesn't look that way at present."

Laughable
Access to the harbour in Sohar is currently blocked by protesters. But their action is only supposed to last 24 hours. Nevertheless, it is difficult to judge how the situation will develop. Several observers who know the oil state rather well were also surprised by the recent protests.

An Omani journalist writes in the English-language Muscat Daily that a few weeks ago she would have laughed out loud at the idea of a revolt in her country.

The demonstrators are demanding an end to corruption, higher wages, cheaper basic facilities, including water and electricity, and more jobs. The last item in the list seems odd. Oman employs a huge number of foreign workers. Harry Betist of the Oman travel agency in the Netherlands:

"Oman has around 3.5 million inhabitants at present. Of those, an estimated 2.5 million are native Omanis and around a million are from a wide variety of other countries."

Protesting helps
Many of the foreigners work in construction, cleaning and comparable sectors. Most young Omanis are well educated. The current sultan has invested large amounts of the oil wealth in infrastructure, care and education. The Omanis are not out to depose the Sultan but they clearly want more.

Journalist Susan al-Shari believes the protesters simply want a few reforms. She does not regard the demonstrations as comparable with those in Tunisia, Egypt or Libya. "Omanis are peaceful people who have just discovered that protesting helps."

All the Dutch companies involved in construction, offshore, port and oil activities must be hoping she is right. And in The Hague they'll be hoping for just one thing: a phone call from the sultan. 

(imm)